NEI Audacious Goals Initiative (AGI)

Challenge to Identify Audacious Goals in Vision Research and Blindness

About the Challenge

The National Eye Institute (NEI) is announcing the launch of the Challenge to Identify Audacious Goals in Vision Research and Blindness Rehabilitation (Challenge) to stimulate innovation in establishing a national vision research agenda. This Challenge seeks entries from the general public, not just those typically engaged in vision research. The challenge calls for submission of audacious goals in any area relevant to NEI’s mission to conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind (42 U.S.C. 285i).

The NEI will select up to 20 winners to receive a $3,000 cash prize and will host the winners at the NEI Audacious Goals Development Meeting to present and discuss their winning entries with a broad audience of scientists, NEI staff, and other stakeholders. This challenge will generate valuable contributions from NEI’s many and varied stakeholders to inform the Institute’s strategic plan, energize the Institute’s research efforts, increase public awareness of vision research, and enhance the national effort to reduce the burden of ocular disorders and diseases worldwide.

Important Dates:

Submission period begins August 13, 2012

Submission period ends November 19, 2012, midnight EDT (NOTE: Due date extended one week due
to disruption by hurricane Sandy.)

This Challenge to Identify Audacious Goals in Vision Research and Blindness Rehabilitation (Challenge) adds an exciting, unique component to the NEI’s current strategic planning effort. In the past, these planning efforts relied primarily on the expertise of NEI-funded scientists to review the state of the science and describe current specific research needs and opportunities. This Challenge seeks input from all eligible individuals (Contestants) — not just vision research scientists — to describe a) an audacious goal in vision research and blindness rehabilitation, b) how to achieve the goal within about 10 years, and c) the impact of reaching the goal.

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